Power actuated waste mechanism



June 27, 1961 Filed March 5l, 1958 24V. 72 runs/amm JJO v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1961 J. R. TUREK ErAL 2,989,758

POWER ACTUATED WASTE MECHANISM Filed March 31, 1.958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 2,989,758 POWER ACTUATED WASTE MECHANTSM James R. Turek and Robert P. Kolena, Chicago, Ill., assgnors to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 725,154 3 Claims. (Cl. 4-203) This invention relates to waste mechanis-ms for plumbing fixtures and more particularly it concerns a power actuated waste or stopper member.

'I'he invention broadly provides for unidirectional rotating type motor means, which rotates, in a single direction, means for alternately camming the reciprocally movable stopper member of the waste mechanism into the fully raised position and at least permitting the stopper member to assume the fully closed position under the action of gravity, together with means for causing said motor to operate and also for stopping operation thereof when the stopper member is fully raised and when it is closed. In the form of the invention illustrated and described, the motor means is a small electric motor and lthe means for causing the motor to operate and stop operating comprises electric circuit means and associated cam and switch means for interrupting the ow of current to said motor, respectively.

In the drawing, which should be read with the following detailed description of an illustrative form of the invention,

FIG. l is an elevational view, partly in section, of a preferred form of the invention as applied to a bathtub, said figure including a Wiring diagram superimposed thereon; and

EFIG. 2 is a view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing figures, the numeral 1 designates a bathtub, shown fragmentarily, having a waste opening 2 through which extends the usual spud 3. A spacer member 5 is positioned at the top against the underside of the inturned flange 6 of the tub, which spacer allows the spud 3 to be drawn down into iluid tight relation with the top of the ange 6 by means of the usual locknut 7 threadedly received on the threaded lower portion of the spud as clearly shown in FIG. 2. A gasket 9 completes the fluid sealed relation of the spud with the bottom of the tub. It should also be noted that the above outlet fittings extend through an opening l11 in the Ifloor member 12, shown fragmentarily in the drawing.

Within the spud 3 is received a reciprocally movable stopper member 14, including more particularly the valve or stopper proper 15, which seats on the inclined seating surface 16. The latter stopper portion also includes four eqn-ally spaced guide elements 17, only t-wo being seen in FIG. 2. The stopper member 14 further includes a lift rod 18 threadedly received within the hub 19 of the stopper proper, the lower end of the lift rod being pro vided with a cam engageable knob 21 threadedly received thereon and retained by the set screw shown. Completing the stopper member is the lower guide portion 23 having four equally spaced guide elements 24, only three of which are seen in FIG. 2. It is obvious that the upper and lower guides 17 and 24 allow smooth reciprocal movement of the stopper member within the bore 26 of the spud 3.

A special elbow 27 is threadedly received on the lower end of the spud 3, which elbow in turn receives the threaded end of the pipe or tube 28, shown fragmentarily in FIG. 2. It is understood that the latter conduit is connected to the drain stack of the building within which the construction is installed. The elbow 27 is provided with an extension 29 having a pair of oppositely directed spaced bosses 30 on which a pair of spaced, parallel ears 31 of a mounting plate 32 are received. Bolts 33` are threadedly received within the opposite ends of the extension 29 for securing the mounting plate on the special elbow 27. The -mounting plate 32 receives a gear reduced, unidirectional motor 35 and switch retaining plate 36, the latter being secured by means of bolt units 37. The elbow 27 is also provided with a boss 39 having an opening 40 therethrough extending into the interior of the elbow. Secured to the motor shaft is a connector 42 within which is received a cam shaft 43, being driven rotatively by means of a splined relation between the end of the shaft 44 and the inside of the connector. Also placed upon the splines 44 is a splined, single lobe light cam 45. A spacing sleeve 47 is located adjacent the latter cam, the cam shaft 43 also being splined at 48 for reception of a. splined limit switch cam 49` having oppositely disposed identically shaped lobes 50. The cam shaft is received in fluid tight relation with the elbow by means of -an O-ring 52 received between the packing nut 53 and centerpiece 54 threadedly engaging each other as shown and a gasket 56 at the outer end of the boss 39, the centerpiece in turn being threadedly received within the latter boss as clearly shown in FIG. l. The end of the cam shaft 43 is provided with additional splines 58 upon which is received a splined waste cam 59. The latter cam is preferably soldered on the cam shaft 43 for retention thereon.

A pair of switches of the limit switch type 61 and 62 are suitably secured as by means of studs `and nuts 63 to the opposite flanges 64 of a U-shaped switch retaining plate 36 previously referred to. The switch 61 is adjusted so as to break an electrical circuit when either of the lobes 50 of the cam 49' is in a downward position, while the switch 62 is adjusted so as to make an electrical circuit when the upper projection 66 is depressed by the light cam 45.

Electrical circuit means is provided for energizing the motor 35 in its sole direction of rotation. The latter circuit means is `made up of separate circuit means, one for initially energizing the motor when a person depresses the touch plate or switch 70` and another for energizing the motor in its direction of rotation after -a predetermined initial period.

The first circuit means is partially made up of a volt circuit comprising a power source and the lines L-1 and L-Z connected across the transformer 72 which reduces the voltage to 24 volts as indicated thereon. The circuit means also includes the 24-volt circuit extending from the latter transformer through the .touch plate 70 and the relay 73. The circuit means further includes the 11G-volt circuit extending from the power source and lines L-l and L-2 through the relay 73 to the motor by way of connectors 74, 75, and 76. The second circuit means, in the present disclosed form, consists of a single circuit comprising the connectors 75, 78, and 79, together with lines L-1 and L-2 and the power source, and controlled by a limit switch 61. A further circuit means is provided comprising a circuit controlled by the light switch 62 and including the transformer 81 and wires 82, 83, and 84, the latter two wires being connected to the ylines L-l and L-Z. The latter circuit means further includes the 6Volt circuit 85 within which is connected a light 86. The purpose of the latter light is to function as an indicator to show the position of the waste stopper 14 relative to the seat 16.

In operation and starting with the position of the device shown in the drawings, should it be desired to close the waste member, the touch plate or switch 70 is momentarily depressed completing the 24-volt circuit extending therethrough, which in turn completes the 110- volt circuit which includes connectors 74-76, thus energizing the motor 35 for an initial instant or period. Although the flow of current through the previously mentioned first circuit means is immediately or shortly interrupted by release of the touch plate, the upper lobe 50 of the cam 49 is Amoved sufficiently in angular movement to allow the limit switch 61 toy complete the second named circuit means for sustained energization of the motor 35. Upon rotation of the lower lobe 50 of the cam 49 into the upper position, the limit switch. 61 is again caused to interrupt electrical flow through the second named circuit means, causing the motor in turn to stop. The cam 49` is so shaped and mounted on the cam shaft 43:` as to allow the cam 59 to completely raise the waste or stopper member 14 by the time the motor has stopped.

When it is desired to open the waste member, the touch plate 70 is again momentarily pressed, once more energizing the first circuit means and consequently the motor suiiiciently to turn the lobe 50 of the limit switch cam 49 from the circuit breaking position so as to allow the second-named circuit means to be completed and again energize the motor until cut off by the opposite lobe. It is clear that opening of the switch 61 by the latter lobe results in a fully raised waste member as shown in the drawing figures, thus completing the operative cycle.

Although the present invention has been appiied in connection with bathtub wastes, the same can also be applied to other plumbing fixtures such as lavatories and kitchen sinks, or the like. though an indicator light, which is preferably mounted below a translucent touch plate 70 so as to shine therethrough, has been disclosed, the same would not have to be used where the waste member can be easily observed, as, for instance, in a lavatory. It should be pointed `out before closing that the numeral 88 is a strainer member which obscures from view the position of the stopper. Similar obscuring means would be present in a kitchen sink, `for instance,

It is of course understood that it is not desired to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, as various modifications and other forms of the invention are within contemplation; rather the invention should be limited only by the terms of the appended claims read in the light of the broad concept of the invention.

We claim:

l. A waste valve mechanism, the combination of a Spud therefor, a stopper reciprocally movable therein, a seat therefor in the spud, a reciprocally movable lift rod for moving the said stopper in a direction away from the said seat, a rotatable cam member in the said spud predeterminately engaging the said lift rod to move the stopper in said direction away from the seat, the said cam member having a shaft portion journaled in a wall portion of said `spud, the said stopper moving in a direction toward said seat in the spud upon predetermined rotation of the said cam member, the said cam member upon rotation in a `direction through an arc of substantially degrees moving said lift rod axially to move said stopper in a direction away from said seat, a motor having a shaft connected to said cam member shaft for rotating said cam `shaft portion, a plurality lof limit switch means for controlling the operation of the motor, a plurality of cam means on the motor shaft cooperating with said limit switch means, a pair of operating circuits for operating the motor, one of the said switch means being adjusted to break one of the operating circuits when either of the lobes of one of the said latter cam means is in a downward position, the other `switch means being adjusted to complete an electrical circuit upon predetermined movement of the other said motor shaft cam means.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, one of said switch means in one of the operating circuits -being a touch plate switch means for effecting movement of the said stopper axially in a direction toward said seat, the actuation of said touch plate switch means completing one of said circuits which in turn completes the other of the operating circuits to energize said motor whereby the upper lobe of one of rsaid cam shaft switch means is moved predeterminately to permit the other of said limit switch means to complete the other of said operating circuits for sustained energization of the `said motor.

3. The subject matter of claim l, one of said motor shaft cam means cooperating with the second named limit switch means in the last named operating circuit being so shaped and mounted on said motor shaft as to allow said rotatable cam member in the said Spud to complete the movement of the said stopper in a direction away lfrom the seat in the said spud seat before one of said circuits has been interrupted to stop the said motor rotating the said motor shaft and said cam in the spud.

References Cited inthe tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,989,942 Parks et al Feb. 5, 1935 2,888,626 Macoy May 26, 1959 2,899,622 Greenwald Aug. 1l, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 891,515 France Dec. l1, 1943 

